Collier commissioners to talk about putting fire/EMS consolidation on ballot

Hoping to jump-start fire and emergency medical services consolidation in Collier County, a local group has come up with an idea.

Let the voters decide.

Collier County commissioners are willing to consider it.

Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to bring back the possibility of putting fire consolidation on the August primary ballot. Commissioner Tom Henning was the lone dissenter.

Janet Vasey, representing the Collier Community Alliance, asked commissioners to hold a hearing to determine whether to put language on the ballot that would ask voters: "Would you support consolidation of the Collier County Emergency Medical Services with the five independent fire districts and two dependent fire districts into a single public safety authority administered by the Collier County Sheriff's Office?"

Commissioners need to decide by June 8 to get the item on the August primary ballot. Any ballot referendum must be approved by the board, unless the proponents get enough signatures to put it on the ballot. County policy would require supporters get 10 percent of the voters affected to sign a petition to get the item on the ballot.

To Henning, asking the voters again about consolidation is superfluous.

In 2010, more than 72 percent of Collier voters said in a nonbinding straw ballot vote they would support merging seven Collier fire districts into one provided it were more efficient and led to better use of tax dollars.

"To me, this is just asking the voters the same question," he said. "And it is going to make them angry and wonder why this hasn't happened."

That approval in 2010 led to the creation of "shell bills," which provided the framework for fire districts to consolidate. Several controversial elements, including plans to create a rural and urban district instead of one countywide district, sank the effort.

Commissioner Georgia Hiller said she thought combining the services under the Sheriff's Office could be problematic. She also stressed that taxpayers need to understand the commissioners do not have the ability to force consolidation even if voters want it.

Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said he has not been part of any discussion involving consolidation and has not received a formal request to consider a consolidation plan. Still, he said economic conditions make this the time to talk about the issue.

"How a consolidation is accomplished and configured, what entities are involved and the operational and organizational impacts require a thorough assessment and plan so that we as a community can make an informed decision as to what course is best in providing public safety in Collier County," he wrote in an email.